Chapter 6: Mission Part II

I look around my office as the sun begins to set. The sky turns from a bright yellow to a rosy pink then to a dark purple and finally the darkness of the night sky. I get up from my seat and exit the room. The door creaks and then silences as I open it. I hop down the long stairway onto the ground as I rush my way to the Hokage manor. Before I realized it, I was standing outside the door, reviewing the scenario in my head. I nod slightly, reassuring myself. My hand grabs the doorknob and turns it. I push slightly and the door opens. I push more and it's completely open.

"Oh Minato! Well you're home early! Anything wrong?" Kushina states.

"Well actually, there's a special S-ranked mission tomorrow morning and-"

"S-ranked?"

"As I was saying, the group that's going is Kakashi, Shinja, five ANBU, me and you."

"WAIT. Did you say I was going?"

"Yup."

"Bu-bu-but...!"

She stood there, dumbfounded, her mouth wide open.

"Why am I coming?! It's a S-RANKED MISSION, Minato!"

"Come on, Kushina. You're a high level jonin and if I didn't let you come along, you'd kill me!"

"Why would I do that? What's this missiona about?"

My eyes become darker, making Kushina jump a little.

"It regards some children we found in a Taki prison, including evidence of Naruto there too."

Her eyes widened as she straightened her back.

"Well, Minato. I can always trust you. I'll be ready. When are we leaving?"

"Nine in the morning."

"Fine then. You better eat 'cause I'm not making a whole lot tomorrow."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say."

"Minato!"

*Timeskip*

We wait at the gates waiting for the rest of the team to come. As usual, the two from the Kurama clan were already there, so were the ANBU. Soon enough, Shinja jumped down from the rooftops and joined us. Now we were all waiting for everyone's favorite silver-haired ninja... Kushina looked around at everyone in their jonin vests, except the ANBU, and stomped her foot.

"Where is Kakashi? He's late!" Kushina exclaims.

"Not necessarily. There's still five more minutes until we leave. Plus, I doubt he'll be late with the threat I gave him." I reply.

Somebody started wondering how many children and dogs there were in Konoha and requested a mission. And if Kakashi's late, guess who's gonna do it... I smirk.

"Oh please Minato. I bet the threat I gave him was ten times worst than whatever you came up with."

As if on cue, the silver-haired boy came running down the street with a... washcloth... covering his face...? I turn my head to Kushina hysterically laughing. Don't tell me.

"Kushina, don't tell me you-" I start.

"Give me my mask back! I'm here!" Kakashi says, clearly annoyed.

"Boy, I didn't think you'd be that desperate to wear a washcloth!" She gasped in between laughing.

She calmed down and handed him the mask with a smirk on her face.

Kakashi turns around and swivels back toward us as he throws the washcloth away, mask covering his face.

"Well, it looks like everyone's here. We're leaving now." I interrupt.

Everyone's attention falls on me.

"We're heading to a meeting place by the Taki borders." I continue, eyes still staring at me.

I lift my hand up, turn it sideways, and turn it down, signaling our departure. We bend our knees preparing to jump and a split-second later, we're jumping on tree branches. Every second we're getting farther and farther from Konoha and closer to Naruto. We quicken our pace, stopping here and there for rest and food, avoiding big and popular towns, making our journey longer. We continue like this for one week until finally, we reach the rendezvous point. We stop immediately and slouch down on the tree trunks, each catching our breath. I get five of my custom kunai and throw them around us, in the shape of a circle. I quickly scan the area for intruders before I begin talking.

"Okay, we need a plan. So far we know only a little bit about the layout of the prison. I'm going to send Wolf, Bear, Cat, Fox, and Dog to search the perimeter for any weaknesses. I also want you five to search and deactivate all the traps you find, if there are any. You have one hour to do all this. Understand?"

"Hai." The five ANBU reply in unison.

"Dismissed."

The jump to the trees and in moments disappear from our view. We all slouch down on the tree trunks, impatiently waiting for the ANBU to return with the information. Kushina showing it more than anybody. She angry sat down on a tree stump and tapped her feet loudly. Kakashi and the two Kurama boys started talking about kunai and jutsus. Shinja activated her Byakugan and just stared outside as if waiting for enemies to come. I move to Kushina's stump and sit next to her.

"This is the worst part." She mumbles "We're only about ten miles away from Naruto but we can't do anything..."

"I know Kushina. I'm his parent too, you know. I'm feeling exactly what you are." I say back.

"But still. I just... needed to get that off my chest."

"I know. But it'll all be worth it when we see Naruto again."

She didn't reply. Her foot gradually stopped tapping and she leaned on me while we spent the hour in our own little worlds. One hour passed quicker than I thought because it only felt like minutes when the five ANBU came back.

"What did you find?" I ask as I stand.

"There are only a few traps in the eastern side but many guards that change hourly." Cat replied

"The northern side has many traps, few guards, but they shift every thirty minutes and are very precautious." Bear continues.

"The southern side has few traps though they are unavoidable, many guards and tight security." Dog says.

"Finally, the western side doesn't have many traps, there are only a few guards, and I presume this will be the easiest to break into." Wolf concludes

"Well then, we'll enter from the western side then." I say.

"Isn't it a little weird? The prison has one side that's weakest. Couldn't be a trap." Kakashi asks.

"Ah but Kakashi, prisons are built to keep people in, not keep people out." Fox counters.

"I guess. Well then, what's the plan?"

I quickly thought of a plan and explained it to everyone.

"Okay, does everyone understand?"

The response was a mixture of 'hai' and 'yes'.

"Well then, Let's go."

We take to the skies once again until we reach the prison. We quietly hide in the bushes as the guards change shift. An explosion rattles the ground and the guards leave to investigate. Phase One completed, Shinja created a diversion so that we could enter. As the guards leave our sight of vision we enter the building. The dark walls, dimly lit, are the first thing we see.

"Okay, Kakashi and I will split up from the rest of you. The ANBU will search for hidden files and you two-" I point to the Kurama boys "-you two will go off on your own for your mission."

The Kurama left us to our lonesome. Kakashi and I started trailing to the left, Shinja and Kushina turning to the right.

"If you find anyone call us and we'll do the same okay?" I call out to them.

"Yes Hokage-sama." Shinja replies.

"Kushina?" I ask warily.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll call." she replies

"The meeting point is the opposite side of the prison. Rendezvous in 6 hours." Kakashi yells to them before we can't see them anymore.

We heard a faint 'hai' and went on our way.

We held our hands against the stony wall as we made our way through the dim passageway. At some point, Kakashi activated his Sharingan. Unlike him, I don't have a special Dojutsu I can use, so I'm stuck with my regular, lighting blue eyes. Suddenly, Kakashi gasps, freezing mid-step.

"Kakashi, what's wrong?"

"I-I-I-I-I'M S-S-ST-T-TUCK!" he stuttered.

I look down to see a faintly glowing seal.

"It's a paralyzing seal. Hold on a moment."

"H-h-h-hurry, c-c-c-c-c-can't b-b-br-br-breath!" Kakashi manages to sqirm out of his mouth as his voice started fading.

I quickly take out ink, hurrying to save my student. First Obito, then Rin, all because I wasn't fast enough, but this time, Shinigami won't have Kakashi without a fight! I draw the characters for the bypass seal, writing faster then I though possible. Soon, the seal was done. Come on Kakashi...

"Sensei... I prob..ably won't-"

"NO KAKASHI, I'M NOT LOSING YOU TOO!" I yell at him, more harshly then I meant to.

I looked back to the bypass seal, the glow fading away, proving it was too weak to sustain itself. I pumped more chakra into the seal, hoping it would hold. Looking back to Kakashi, I desperately hoped the paralyzing seal would give way. It has too, with all this chakra I'm pulsing into it, or is it enough? Suddenly, a purple glowing layer surrounded Kakashi. As the silver-haired boy was about to slip away, his soul returned. The paralyzing seal shattered and freed Kakashi, then gravity kicked in. Kakashi, dying moments before, fell into my arms, gasping for air.

"Kakashi!"

"Sensei... thank you. I was about to visit my father but you saved me, so thanks." Kakashi says, the strength pouring back into him.

"Kakashi... are you okay? You had me scared to death!"

"I'm fine now, thanks to you."

"Come on, we should keeping moving but this time-"

"-Yeah, yeah, be more careful." Kakashi finishes.

I lightly chuckle and we move forward. Though somewhere in the back of my mind, a voice was nagging at me, wondering if that purple glow was actually from the bypass seal. Minutes later, we heard the sound of walls rumbling and falling from the other side of the prison. Whatever was going on there, it caused the entire prison to shake, the ceiling above us cracking a bit and then stopped. Kakashi and I stopped to look at each other and shrugged, figuring it was Kushina and Shinji.

"What is going on with those two?"

"If I know my wife, I wouldn't want to know."

"You're probably right."

We continued our path, occasionally noticing paralyzing seals. We soon reached a door with a rusty gold plaque above it.

"'Cells A23-B98' Naruto is at A31, right? So..." Kakashi trailed off.

"Come on, let's go." My composure remained calm but inside, I was more mixed up then ever.

Happiness. Excitement. Nervousness. Fear. Joy. Impatience. Anger. There were too many to sort out. We walked through the doorway, looking to the left, I saw a cell labeled A98.

"So it's that kind of prison..." Kakashi mutters.

"Here, hold my arm."

Kakashi touches my arm and I activate Hirashin no Jutsu, moving all the way to Cell A35. Next to me, Kakashi was dizzy and has a headache.

"How do you do that a ga-jillion times, Sensei? It hurts!"

I ignore him and walk forward until I reach Cell A31. This is it. I hesitate, then kneel down.

"Naruto? Naruto?" I coo.

"Daddy...? Is that you?"

At the sound of my sons voice, my face immediately lit up.

"Yes, Naruto. Daddy is here."

Slowly, a small, thin looking boy with bright yellow hair and lightning blue eyes only a shade duller than his own walked out of the shadows. He looks at me and widens his eyes, myself doing the same. Naruto, oh Naruto! It's really you! I've dreamed of this day for years! I unlock his cell, opening the doors, holding my arms out. He runs towards me and gives me a tight embrace, crying into my shirt. I squeeze the boy back as tears spill from my eyes.

"Daddy... I was so scared, but now you're here. I knew you would give up. Is mommy here?"

"Yes Naruto. We both came to find you."

He squeezes tighter.

"Thank you" he whispers.

Just then, I felt the metal of a kunai on my throat. I turn to look behind me as Naruto's eyes widened.

"Hand over the boy!" The familiar voice says.

"You... you did betray us! How dare you! Working with the prison to kill me. You will pay, you Kurama scum!"

"Attack" he whispers.

I hear metal clanging against metal, Kakashi against three guards and the other Kurama.

"You will not go unpunished for your deeds! You will watch your student die as he fights my brother, the undefeated champion of the Kurama. It is either your son or your student. Choose!" The boy screams.

I close my eyes. Kushina will have my head, no, she would literally kill me. Kakashi or Naruto? Who do I choose. I sigh. He's not worth it, he's not as special. I open my eyes.

"Fine." I reply in defeat.

I turn around, grabbing Naruto in my arms. I got up, the kunai still up against my throat.

"Here!"

I hand Naruto to one of the guards as they stop attacking Kakashi.

"Sensei, why?" Kakashi muttered.

"My student is more precious to me then that thing." I say, referring to Naruto.

Kakashi gasps, eyes widening.

"Sensei..."

Suddenly the guard takes a hidden kunai from his sleeve

"Well if you really don't care about the thing in my arms, I can kill him?"

"Go ahead."

He takes the kunai and stabs it into Naruto's chest, hitting his heart. Pain, betrayal and hurt flashed across his face for a moment then, he disappears in a puff of smoke.

"You should have been more careful, more skeptical when I decided to let you kill him. That mere clone meant nothing to me, that's why I didn't care if it was killed, it wasn't real."

I Hirashined to every guard and Kurama, slitting their neck and killing them. Kakashi stares at me wide eyed.

"Sensei, did you know it was a clone the whole time?"

"Of course I did. Call Kushina, we're leaving."

OK! OK! I KNOW! I SAID I WOULD UPDATE TWO WEEKS AGO AND I WAS ABOUT TO, I had the next couple of chapters written up BUT my laptop crashed as I saved the final chapter and I had to rewrite EVERYTHING! So anyway, where I am, it's two hours until 12:00AM AKA 2015 so I'll take this as a New Years Special, GOODBYE 2014